Point Aux Barques is approximately a 3-hour round trip paddle from Port Austin.
It has beautiful sandstone cliffs, sea caves, a sea stack called Turnip Rock
and beaches to pull up, relax and grab a swim.
Photo courtesy of Port Austin Kayak and Boat Rental
Excitement For Everyone
Lush forests, miles of shoreline and incredible sunrises on Lake Huron are only
a hint of what northeast Michigan’s “Sunrise Side” has to
offer. Rich history and traditions are celebrated across this region with
dedicated museums, preservation areas and treasured monuments. Teeming with
beautiful rivers and lakes, fertile farmland and natural wonders, this region
has something for everyone.
Discover Adventurous Fun
Children can soar 350 feet across the waters of Mill Creek on the new
Eagle’s Flight Zip Line at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park in Mackinaw
City. New activities also include the Forest Friends Play Area, where kids can
play and learn about the woods, and the Tree Top Tower that gives you a
bird’s eye view of the forest below (www.mackinacparks.com).
The Robert T. Longway Planetarium in Flint is Michigan’s largest
planetarium, and features 285 seats under an impressive 60-foot dome. Photo
courtesy of Longway Planetarium, Flint Cultural Center
A visit to Longway Planetarium in Flint is sure to wow the kids with an
impressive 60-foot dome for a fascinating 3-D “journey” among the
stars. The learning center offers hands-on science demonstrations, astronomy
classes and telescope workshops (www.longwayplanetarium.com).
Take the whole family out to the ball game at Dow Diamond Stadium in Midland,
home of the Great Lakes Loons, one of three class-A minor league baseball teams
in Michigan. Enjoy hot dogs and drinks in the stadium’s unique lawn-seat
section (www.loons.com).
At Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad, experience life as it was more
than 100 years ago. In Victorian homes and shops, watch villagers do chores
that were part of early village life. Ride the restored 1912 carousel, the 1910
Ferris wheel or hop aboard the Huckleberry Railroad, a restored steam-engine
locomotive, for a scenic tour around Mott Lake (www.geneseecountyparks.org).
Plenty for Outdoor Enthusiasts
The waters of Houghton, Higgins and St. Helen lakes offer endless water
opportunities. Houghton Lake, Michigan’s largest inland lake, covers
22,000 acres, ideal for jet skiing, water skiing and sailing. Higgins Lake is
excellent for boating, windsurfing and fishing for lake trout, perch and
northern pike. Lake St. Helen is best known for its fantastic bluegill fishing
but is also home to walleye and rock bass (www.visithoughtonlake.com).
For a scenic canoe or kayak trip, head to Grayling for the clear waters of the
Manistee and Au Sable rivers. Wildlife and wilderness surround you as slow,
steady currents take you down river; be sure to look for otters, beavers, ducks
and other wildlife that inhabit the riverbank. In Omer, try canoeing, kayaking
or tubing on the Rifle River. Russell Canoe offers inflatable watercraft,
including large lounge rafts for up to eight people (www.russellcanoe.com).
The Pere Marquette Rail-Trail, stretching 30 miles from Clare to Midland,
offers a hard surface for hiking, biking, in-line skating or pet walking (www.lmb.org/pmrt).
Gaylord boasts a 62-mile rail-trail for biking and hiking that extends north
through Wolverine, Indian River, Cheboygan and ends at Mackinaw City (www.gaylordmichigan.net).
Treetops in Gaylord has been named one of the nation’s finest golf
facilities. Dramatic views, contours and rolling terrain provide a beautiful
setting for world-class golfing.
Photo courtesy of Brian Walters
Golf enthusiasts will find this region teeming with championship courses set
among rolling hills, towering trees and sparkling ponds. The Gaylord area has a
collection of 21 spectacular courses, including Tree Tops, ranked 3rd best by
Great Lakes Golf magazine (www.gaylordgolfmecca.com).
In Roscommon County, a dozen dazzling golf courses await you. Forest Dunes,
with its manicured greens set among soaring pines and natural sand dunes, is
rated 6th best in Michigan by Golf Digest (www.visithoughtonlake.com).
Built in 1892, the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City guided
Straits of Mackinac ship traffic for 65 years. The castle style quarters housed
two lighthouse keepers and their families.
Photo courtesy of Vito Palmisano
For a thrilling tour of the Straits of Mackinac, try parasailing, which takes
you 300 to 600 feet above the water for breathtaking views of Mackinac Island,
the Mackinac Bridge, and Bois Blanc Island. Mackinaw Parasailing lets you take
off directly from the boat so you never get wet, and you can fly solo or in
tandem for double the fun (www.mackinawparasailing.com).
The Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trail covers 110 miles of Lake Huron
shoreline in Huron County with 17 launches and landings from Sebewaing to White
Rock Park (www.thumbtrails.com).
Rent a kayak at Port Austin Kayak for a scenic paddle along the coast to Pointe
aux Barques Lighthouse, where beautiful sandstone cliffs, sea caves and the
Turnip Rock formation are part of the natural waterscape. There are several
beaches along the way to relax, swim or have a picnic lunch (www.thumbkayak.com).
The Bay City State Recreation Area features almost one mile of natural Saginaw Bay shoreline, including a public swimming beach. The park also provides access to Tobico Marsh, an 1800-acre wetland preserve featuring nearly five miles of trails.
Photo courtesy of Ted Kasper
Cultural Treasures and Edible Pleasures
The Flint Cultural Center has something for everyone. The Flint Institute of
Arts is home to 7,500 works of art; the Flint Institute of Music features
performances by the Flint Symphony Orchestra and the School of Performing Arts.
Also on site is the Flint Youth Theater, designed to entertain family audiences
with a dazzling mix of performances ranging from magic to music to comedy (www.flintculturalcenter.org).
With seven lighthouses, the Cheboygan area is filled with Michigan maritime
history. Shepler’s Ferry hosts one- or two-day lighthouse ferry tours for
a fascinating learning experience while cruising the Cheboygan River and the
Straits of Mackinaw (www.sheplersferry.com).
Head to Au Gres for a ferry dinner cruise to Charity Island Lighthouse in
Saginaw Bay. A wooded trail takes you to the lightkeeper’s home for a
delicious dinner with amazing views. Enjoy dessert and coffee on your return
trip, timed to catch the stunning sunset over Saginaw Bay (www.charityisland.com).
For Native American history, visit the Sanilac Petroglyphs, artwork carvings
etched into sandstone dating back 300 to 1,000 years ago. The rock carvings of
mythical panthers, deer and a Native American archer were created during
ancient spiritual rituals designed to influence events in the natural world (www.michigan.gov/sanilacpetroglyphs).
The Flint Farmer’s Market is open year round and hosts more than 50
vendors in a cozy, old style public market. Here you’ll find fresh
produce, specialty meats and cheeses, baked goods, flowers, wine and arts and
crafts (www.flintfarmersmarket.com).
For excellent seasonal produce May through October, visit Port Austin’s
farmers market. More than 100 vendors participate in selling not only produce
and baked goods, but antiques, collectables and handcrafted art (www.portaustinarea.com).
Kids love picking (and eating) fresh fruits, and this region is teeming with
“u-pick” farms offering strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and
more.
Have fun picking your own fruit in Sanilac County. Farms and orchards offer
“u-pick” or “we pick” services for fresh-off-the-vine
fruits. In Croswell you’ll find red ripe raspberries at Bingle’s
Berry Farm and plump blueberries and blackberries at Croswell Berry Farm.
Strawberry lovers need look no further than Deckerville’s Kritzman Berry
Farm, and for crisp apples and juicy pears, try Moeller’s Apple Orchard
in Lexington (www.sanilaccounty.org/tourism).
Seasonal Fun
For a unique way to view the fall colors, hop aboard the River Queen Paddleboat
in Oscoda. Bring a camera to capture the spectacular fall colors and wildlife
that surround you on a relaxing cruise down the Au Sable (www.ausableriverqueen.net).
All aboard the Pere Marquette steam locomotive in Owosso for seasonal train
rides. In September and October, hop aboard the “Fall Color Trip”
or the Halloween “Terror Train”; in November and December, take a
magical journey on the “Polar Express” (www.michigansteamtrain.com).
For a challenging cross-country ski route, try the 44-mile Corsair Trail
nestled in the Silver Valley near East Tawas (www.oscoda.com). Roscommon County
offers more than 200 miles of groomed trails, perfect for the avid snowmobiler
(www.visithoughtonlake.com).
Select from the various articles below to learn more about the camping and
recreation vehicle lifestyle.
